COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Texas A&M softball team extended their win streak to ten games after two wins on Saturday, a come-from-behind 7-3 victory over Illinois State and a 7-1 defeat of Boston University.
Senior Rachel Fox got the start against Illinois State, setting a season-high with 11 strikeouts and allowing only six hits. Junior Katie Marks stepped into the circle against Boston and fanned five batters, allowing only a single hit and two walks.
The Aggies opened the second day of the Texas A&M Invitational against Illinois State, with both teams getting on board in the first inning.
The Redbirds struck first on an RBI single to left field that called the runner on third home. Trailing for the first time this weekend, the Aggies went to work in the bottom of the first. Senior Brittany Clopton led off with a double to right field and was sent home by a double down the first base line by junior Cali Lanphear. A single up the middle on the next play by sophomore April Ryan scored Lanphear for the final run of the inning.
Illinois State answered in the top of the second, scoring on a solo shot home run to tie the game at two all. Neither team would score again until the fifth inning with a gritty, defensive battle highlighting two scoreless innings.
With a runner in scoring position at third base, a Redbird batter hit a double down the left field line for the go-ahead run.
The Aggies trailed until the bottom of the sixth, when they blew the lead wide open with a five run inning. Three walks in a row loaded the bases with freshman Tori Vidales, junior Cali Lanphear and sophomore April Ryan. A sacrifice fly from sophomore Celena Massey called Vidales home for the equalizing run and put two runners in scoring position for A&M. Staring down two outs, sophomore Reagan Boenker loaded the bases again with a single to shortstop.
With freshman Kayla Ober on to pinch run for Boenker, freshman Erica Russellstepped up to the plate and hit a flare just over the third baseman’s head for a two RBI double, scoring Ryan and Lanphear. A laser right up the middle from Clopton gave the Aggies back-to-back two RBI doubles and a throwing error put Clopton on third. The third out stranded Clopton but the Aggies entered the top of the seventh with a 7-3 lead.
Fox and the A&M defense allowed one runner on base but no hits in the top of the seventh to close the game and ensure the victory.
The second game of Texas A&M’s doubleheader got off to a slow start, with both teams recording a hit and getting a runner on base but the game remained scoreless.
The Aggies started their attack in the bottom of the second with a single up the middle from freshman Kristen Cuyos. Cuyos advanced to second on a wild pitch and Boenker joined her on the bags on a full count walk. Russell stepped up to the plate and launched another clutch hit to right center, scoring Cuyos and Boenker and advancing to third on a throwing error.
A single from Clopton and bunt from Masek loaded the bases for the first time in the game. A sacrifice fly from Vidales scored Russell for the final run of the inning. The Aggies stranded three runners en route to taking a 3-0 lead.
The Terriers threatened in the third, putting a runner in scoring position on second base but couldn’t capitalize and left her stranded.
The A&M attack began again in the bottom of the fourth. With Masek and Clopton on first and second base, a monster hit to the right field wall by Vidales earned her two more RBIs as Clopton and Masek rounded the bases. A double to right field from Ryan sent Vidales home and another single up the middle for freshman Ashley Walters scored the seventh and final Aggie run.
Boston managed to get on the board in the top of the sixth on a bases loaded walk. With the bags still full, Cuyos got behind a ground ball and made the throw to Ryan at second to pick off the lead runner and close the inning.
Three outs away from victory, the Aggie defense played a near-perfect half inning to end their second day of competition on the weekend. Marks opened with a three-pitch strikeout and Vidales sprinted in to grab a bunt and make a wicked throw to Ryan covering first base. The final out came on a deep, high ball to right field that Clopton snagged without wavering.
The Aggies are now riding an ten game winning streak and haven’t lost since their midweek match with No. 2 Oregon earlier this month.
Coach Evans Post Game Sound